Blast Of Arctic Air Puts Tri-State Area In Deep Freeze
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Tri-State area is dealing with bitter cold temperatures Monday after many spent the weekend digging out from Saturday's snowstorm.
As CBS2's Lonnie Quinn reported, it was 22 degrees in Central Park as of 5 p.m. and the ground was covered with snow. But the wind chill made it feel like 13 degrees.
In some other areas, conditions were far more severe. In Monticello, the temperature was 16 degrees at 5 p.m., with the wind chill making it feel like 3.
But on Monday morning, it was dangerously cold – with negative-range readings on the actual thermometer for many areas. Westhampton, Long Island woke up to a temperature of minus 9, Toms River, New Jersey minus 6; Shirley, Long Island and Danbury, Connecticut minus 4; and Poughkeepsie minus 1.
New York City started out the morning at 14 degrees.
The bitter cold made for a slippery morning commute for some.
"Make sure you have shoes with traction. It's kind of icy out there," Queens resident Elaine Villavare told CBS2's Ali Bauman.
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But New Yorkers know the drill: Pack on plenty of layers to withstand the contrast of freezing fresh air and crowded subway cars.
"You're rushing to get to work then you go in the subway, you're really hot and then most buildings are warm inside," said Midtown resident Stephanie Duffy.
As some scurried to the office, workers at the farmer's market were ready to stand outside for up to 10 hours, but not everyone.
"Fish people are not here today, wheat grass people not here today," said bread vendor Barbara Olsen.
And the bitter cold came after a snowstorm that had people stuck bundled inside over the weekend. Long Island saw nearly a foot of snow from which residents were still digging out Monday.
After shoveling off her car to get to work, Maureen Russo of Levittown knew it was time to get out her extra-warm fur coat.
"I don't like it," Russo said. "I can't wait for the summer and the springtime. I hate it. I'm not a winter person."
While shoveling out his vehicle, Adam Kohler of Babylon took some comfort in being able to start up the car remotely with his key.
"It allows me to heat up the car before I get into it so I don't have to wait in a freezing cold car waiting for it to defrost," Kohler said.
Repair shops are busy from a surge in weather-related fender benders. Mechanics said they are also replacing more aging batteries that just do not have the juice needed to hold a charge in such frigid temperatures.
"If you have a bad battery, it's going to be a problem," said mechanic Gustavo Zuarnic. "Probably you're going to get stuck when you're going to start it first time in the morning."
Meanwhile, everyone was bundled up in furry hats and winter coats. Kathy Francos of Valley Stream had a rule for dressing her college-age daughter and niece for a trip to the mall.
"Well, I have my formula -- under 30-degrees, it's one extra layer; under 20 degrees, it's two extra layers, so we would have had two extra layers today," Francos said.
One teen, who was dressed in just a jacket and red sneakers, told CBS2 he did not mind the bone-numbing temperatures. As for Kohler, he was just looking forward to a honeymoon in Bermuda.
"I'm getting married in a week, so if this is it, I'm good with it," he said.
On Tuesday at 8 a.m., temperatures will only be marginally higher – 21 degrees in the city, and 16 in Monticello. A snow or rain chance is expected later in the day, with a high of 39 degrees.
Through the week, temperatures will rise even higher.
